Skins: Every Season, Ranked According To IMDb

Debuting in 2007, Skins was a drama series from the British network E4. It ran for seven seasons until 2013, following three generations of teens as they navigate the grittier parts of life in Bristol, England. The seventh season is unique in that it tells the aftermath of three of the show’s most popular characters in their adult lives.

The critically acclaimed series is a blend of drama, humor, and adventure that explores topics such as mental health, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, sexuality, eating disorders, and more. Every two seasons, the cast is replaced with the next generation of teens when the previous group graduates. Each generation brings with it a new set of struggles and unique relationship.

7 Season 5 (7.3)

The fifth season introduces the third generation, which marks a significant removal from the first two generations. None of the characters are of any relation to those who fans have grown attached to in the first four seasons. The unfamiliar and more modern setting is likely the reason for this season’s lower rating.

At the same time, the characters in this generation feel less mature than those in the previous seasons. The first episode introduces Franky, played by Dakota Blue Richards, a loner who is new to Roundview who inadvertently challenges Mini’s position at the top of the social food chain. Franky’s arrival results in the formation of a new group.

6 Season 6 (7.6)

Fans seemed to enjoy the second part of the third generation’s experiences. The season kicks off with the group on holiday in Morocco, which turns out to be slightly less glamorous than they’d expected. Franky leaves Matty for Luke, who is soon discovered to be a notorious drug dealer.

Liv learns about Luke’s dealings and gathers her friends to follow after him and Franky. This results in an accident that leaves Grace in a coma. Rich visits her home while she’s in the hospital, becoming obsessive until he learns that Grace has died. Mini learns that she’s pregnant with Alo’s child. She gives birth in the final episode, where the couple finally makes amends.

5 Season 7 (7.8)

Season 7 stands apart from the rest. Split into three parts (“Pure,” “Fire.” and “Rise”) of two episodes each, the season examines the lives of three of the show’s most popular and iconic characters: Cassie, Effy, and Cook.

Fans are eager to learn whether Cassie and Sid end up together, but Cassie only alludes to a past of heartbreak. She becomes a model stalked by a mysterious photographer and is nothing like the airheaded Cassie fans know in seasons 1 and 2. In “Fire” Effy is mature and stable, working in finances. She’s career-driven but her love life is a mess. At the end of her segment, she’s on her way to prison. Cook is also a mess, haunted by his past but trying to ignore it. His segment involves a few murders and unfaithful relationships. So, not the happiest conclusion to the series.

4 Season 4 (8.0)

This is the second season featuring the second generation of characters. This time, Effy Stonem takes the spotlight from her brother. Other characters in this generation include Effy’s pushover companion Pandora, the twins Katie and Emily, indecisive Naomi, romantic Freddie, slightly nerdy JJ, rough Cook, and the naïve Thomas.

The season is very much the detailed aftermath of the events of season 3. It centers around Effy’s depression, which indirectly leads to Freddie’s murder at the hands of Effie’s psychotherapist, who becomes obsessed with her. Meanwhile, Emily learns that Naomi has cheated on her and they struggle to heal their relationship. Katie loses her job and learns that she’s infertile, and Cook discovers his mum had sex with Freddie. JJ finds love with Lara, who has a baby.

3 Season 3 (8.0)

Season 3 introduces the second generation in all of their unlikely compatible connections. They truly are a bunch of misfits, far more than the first generation is, but they also find that they fit in with each other. The season begins with Cook, Freddie, and JJ immediately falling in love with Effy, who enjoys the attention and playing around with their feelings.

Eventually, she chooses Freddie and breaks Cook’s heart. Thomas arrives in Bristol from Congo and Pandora tries to help him settle in by supplying him drugs to sell. Emily and Naomi begin a tentative relationship and eventually embrace it. JJ struggles with his Aspergers and feelings of exclusion from the group. He also accidentally reveals to Katie that her sister is a lesbian. Effy becomes jealous of Katie when she and Freddie begin a relationship, and later accidentally hospitalizes her.

2 Season 1 (8.3)

The original group of characters and their stories take the top spots on the list of Skins seasons. The first season has a unique charm and sense of humor that is hard to replicate in the later segments, especially as the stakes increase. Generation 1 is (from left to right) Chris, Anwar, Tony, Sid, Maxxie, Michelle, Sketch, Jal, and Cassie.

Tony is the alpha of the group, which is perhaps why he thinks it’s okay to toy with his girlfriend Michelle’s emotions. Sid is also in love with Michelle but becomes captivated by Cassie, who has an eating disorder and a unique view of the world. Anwar is the insensitive best friend of Maxxie, who is gay and being stalked by Sketch. Jal – musical prodigy – and Chris – homeless abandoned teen – enter into an endearing romance after Chris gets over his crush on their teacher.

1 Season 2 (8.5)

The top-rated season of Skins is the second. Here, viewers get to know the characters even better as they face more struggles. Michelle questions who she really is and attempts a romance with Sid, who finally realizes it’s Cassie he loves. But Cassie, now in Scotland, is still bitter over him choosing Michelle.

Tony isn’t himself, having been hit by a bus at the end of season 1, which leads him on a very long and roundabout road back to Michelle. Sid eventually leaves for New York to pursue Cassie after her period of darkness spent living with Chris. Effy is forced to take the reins at home as her mother falls into a deep depression. She befriends Pandora and sells cannabis to make money. Chris dies after Jal finds out she’s pregnant with his child.

About The Author

Svetlana Sterlin
(256 Articles Published)

After years of relocation, Svetlana Sterlin (she/her) was raised by her Russian parents in Brisbane, Australia, where she completed a BFA and contributes to ScreenRant and Our Culture Magazine. An avid cinephile and bookworm, Svetlana also writes creatively across multiple forms and genres. Her fiction and poetry appear in several printed and digital publications. Find more from Svetlana here: https://linktr.ee/svetlanasterlin.

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